Pain relief for osteoarthritis in knees

Hello. Can anyone tell me what a back knee support is?.l do not live in the U .K.,so l am not familliar with it.
As l have very bad pain in my knee,l would be very happy to try anything that will help me with the pain.

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Thanks yes - it is snowing like crazy now- so not out of the woods yet, or rather, into the woods. Can't wait to go swimming in about 10 days time.

Gawd! Three knees. Couldn't cope with that.
You seem to be making a very good recovery though. You'll really be able to look forward to the summer.

I believe in reverse superstition ;) lol

Good on you- and mya the force be with you.

The younger and fitter you are, the more able you will be to fight for recovery and enjoy your new knees- after the initial months. With you all the way.

But by gum am I glad I have not got 3 knees, for sure. xxx

Have bitten the bullet and made an appointment...
Friday 13th. Hope that's not ominous.

So so sorry to hear that Jane and anno - bonne chance.

Google it and see reviews

Teacheranne have you tried Actipatch ? Its available from chemists and online.My D used it for Fibromyalgia and my cousin for a foot issue and both had good results .Although in my D's case only for a few months .Worth a try? Its worn 24/7 and lasts a month ,around £20 but you can get a trial size that lasts 7 days online and is about £5.

I'm up early today as the pain in my knee was so bad that I had to get up and plaster on the Voltarol gel.
I've been putting off the evil hour so long but I think I'll need to make an appointment and kick off the whole process again.

My knees have deteriorated very fast. The first hint I had was ten months ago, but now walking is really trying - even a trudge round M&S is getting to be too much. I'm under a rheumatologist for an auto-immune condition which I suspect is responsible for the arthritis. She thinks I will need replacements but I haven't yet seen an orthopod. I will ask to be referred to the one who did my hip, 13 years ago - unless he's retired in the meantime. I can't take any opiates without feeling (and sometimes being) very sick, and NSAIDs are also disallowed, so am stuck with paracetamol. I find that Voltarol 12 hour gel takes the edge off the pain and gives me relief over night. I wish I could get rid of this pain. It spoiled the last part of an opera recently because I couldn't stretch my leg out and I was almost screaming for Madame Butterfly to hurry up and die! In future I will be booking aisle seats.

Do you have access to a warm water or hydrotherapy pool?

I have Ehlers Danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia and following an accident destroyed one knee that had to be replaced when I was 50. However the warm water exercises are the only thing that kept me mobile.

I go to a special session for people with disabilities and health issues. It is not a group thing - everyone has their own exercise prescription from a dr or physio and we all do our own thing. Some have back issues, others are waiting for joint replacement, one elderly lady has had a stroke, The age range is huge, around 18-88 and the physical range is also huge but no-one cares as they just do their own programme.

I have a physio knee programme and started on 10-15 minutes - last Monday I did 1 hour 45mins.

Only just back to this, good news for all of you who do find painkillers, creams ,exercise good but frankly when you are bone on bone, nothing but a replacement works. There is nothing left to treat.
I can truly say it was agonising. Although my op produced good results I am sure it would have been better if I had had the op before it got as bad.
I would have been in a wheelchair in a few weeks it was so bad.

Someone here mentioned Flexiseq and I've been using it now for a week with great results. Unfortunately at a cost of £18.99 for about 8 days supply it is not possible to keep buying it. If I win the lottery I'll buy a year's supply.

3 weeks + 2days - reached the ultimate goal of 120 degree bend. Pheew.

Still on paracetamol + 1 Naproxen a day though- time to start cutting back.

It does sound harsh- to say 'must exercise more' - and yet, research has shown that it is the key to pain relief in many cases, including back pain.

So as Bluebell says, find a pool where you can do aquafit once then twice a week- and start swimming. Perhaps go to one which is not your local one (this is what I do) - if you are very self conscious. You can also put some thin 3/4 leggings (Decathlon do some very thin ones) to wear with swimsuit.
Bonne chance- exercising does relieve pain, and get the adrenalin going to help with depression and helplesness. Hugs- and bonne chance.

115 Degree bend today, no more crutches or sticks and can go up the stairs totally un-aided- not even bannister. I am absolutely sure I could not have achieved this in 2 weeks without the regular and active use of the kinetec.

I go to an aquafit class and find it reduces pain and helps keeps the joints supple. I put my swimsuit on at home under my clothes. Several obese ladies attend. Could you bite the bullet and give it a try?

cornergran - this is the product which was used for husband's knee:
www.fillerworld.com/orthopedics/ostenil-mini-1x10mg1ml
Only he had a larger amount, supposed to last for 6 months.
The injection probably has to be done by a specialist ( his was done by a rheumatologist.) And an xray first to locate the exact spot for the injection.He had had various other treatments before that.
TG his knee is still holding up, since 2-3 months.

Dontaskme, that's exactly what I was told, do more exercise! How, when it hurts to even walk? I know swimming or aquarobics would help but I am not comfortable in exposing my obese body to other people! You sound a lot worse than me yet are also not being offered surgery, that seems unfair as I know loads of people who have had new knees or hips without having to fight for them.

But, on a positive note, I took three lots of tramodol yesterday and also 40 mg I'd amitriptylin ( apparently you need to reduce amitriptylin doses slowly) and the pain in my knees seemed to reduce! I have researched on Arthritis UK website and it looks as if you can take both these medicines together so I will mention this to my GP when I see her in two weeks - provided that the improvement is sustained!

I have taken tramodol before and had no problems re addiction, I often forgot to take a dose and never took the full daily amount so was not needing a higher dose or clock watching for the next "fix". Also when I changed to amitriptylin, I just stopped taking the tramodol immediately and had no withdrawal symptoms. I do not really like taking such strong painkillers but needs must - I live on my own so have to shop, drive, clean etc for myself.

I'll keep you informed if the improvement is sustained as it might just be a placebo effect as I am desperate!

OldMeg I thought exactly the same WTF. I re-read everything as sometimes the written word doesn't come across the same as if spoken, and still no idea!

OP I have no clues for pain relief I'm sorry to say. I have OA all over, including my sternum which is a swine but all the GP says is "we cant replace every joint in your body" yet doesn't suggest replacing even one!! I asked "So what will you do instead then"? Referred me to a gym which is hilarious as most days I literally can't move so for a start couldn't even get there even if I wanted to!

I also take curcumin and curcuma - in capsule form- 1 curcumin and 3 curcuma daily. Started doing so after going to a lecture about plant pharmacology last year, by a Professor from Lausanne, Geneva and several Chinese Unis.

One great advantage is that the anti-imflammatory effect also acts on the brain- and it seems to be the bes prophylactic stuff to take to ward dementia and Alzheimers- and no side-effects.

BTW Tramal/Tramadol is an opiate and closely related to morphine- and in some people, can be very addictive.

It was done in France - partially reimbursed by our health insurance, but still quite expensive.
But worth it.

fennel can I ask if the hyaluronan injections were via the NHS? I was told recently these are only available privately. Wondering if it is just this area or nationwide.

Good luck, teacheranne!